Page hoping for third time lucky

Page hoping for third time lucky

KIDDERMINSTER potting sensation Lee Page booked his place back in the big-time after winning a spot on the World Snooker Tour.

The 25-year-old cueing machine won all five matches at the qualifying school in Sheffield to ensure his place among the world’s top 128 players.

His toughest clash was in the last 32 against Ireland’s Josh Boileau but he eventually won, recording 121 break in the process, before seeing off Gareth Green 4-0 in the final round with scores of 69 and 55.

Success means Potter will now play on the professional circuit for the next two years, starting with the Wuxi Classic and Australian Goldfields Open qualifiers later this month.

It’s a remarkable return for Page, who after two unsuccessful spells on the tour almost hung up his cue.

The former King Charles I School student first qualified as an 18-year-old and again in 2009 but was unable to make the breakthrough.

“After the last time I was on the tour I actually took a year out and I wasn’t sure if I would play again,” said Page.

“But snooker is all I know, I didn’t know what else to do and I was determined not to give up on my dream.

“This is the first time I’ve been on the tour since Barry Hearn took over and it’s very different.

“I have two years on the tour instead of one, there are 18 tournaments instead of six and the prize money pot is now £8.5 million.

“My ambition is to make sure I am still on the tour in two years’ time.”

Page, who trains at Snooks Snooker Club on Green Street, gets his first chance to impress at the qualifiers for the Wuxi Classic, which will be held in The South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester between May 27 and 29.

If he comes through that, then he will be competing in the ranking event, which has prize money of £400,000, in China.

Page can also compete on the European Snooker Tour.

He added: “I’ve got experience of the tour and I have been practicising hard so hopefully I am ready for the challenge.”

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